Topics › The Sacraments › Indulgences

A Topic of Moral Theology

Indulgences

The nature of an indulgence and the conditions for gaining one; the Jubilee.

The works themselves ask 159 questions under this heading — see them together with their answers.

Within this topic

The Nature of an Indulgence ▸ 4 subtopics
Conditions Required for Gaining Indulgences ▸ 4 subtopics
The Jubilee ▸ 3 subtopics
The Granting of Indulgences ▸ 1 subtopics
The Privileged Altar
The Way of the Cross ▸ 2 subtopics
The Papal or Apostolic Blessing
General Absolution with a Plenary Indulgence
The Heroic Act of Charity
Rules for Distinguishing True Indulgences from Apocryphal Ones

Penalty Trafficking in indulgences (Can. 2327) — in Excommunications Simply Reserved to the Holy See

Also asked about as…

gaining an indulgence · partial indulgence · plenary indulgence (ed.)

In the index as Indulgence (Indulgentia) · Indulgences · Jubilee · Altar · Scapular · Way of the Cross · Intention · General Absolution (Absolutio generalis), or Indulgence of the Apostolic Benediction at the article of death · Blessing · Dead · Principal Scapulars · Stations · Beads Endowed with Indulgences (Corona precatoria indulgentiis ditata) · Bishop · Confraternity · Cross Endowed with Indulgences (Crux indulgentiis ditata) · Heroic act of charity · Prayers · Rosary · Acceptance of death · Application of indulgences · Nuptial blessing · Regulars · The deaf-mute

In the manuals

Read the manuals side by side → — each work's whole treatment in its own column

A Manual of Moral Theology for English-Speaking Countries

Thomas Slater, S.J. — 15 passages

Vol. II, Bk. X, Pt. III, Ch. I, C.—Excommunications Simply Reserved to the Holy See, n. 1 — Canon 2237, sec. 2, provides that in occult cases the Ordinary can remit, himself or through another, penalties latae sententiae imposed by common law, except censures very specially or only specially reserved to the Apo… Read in context →

Vol. II, Bk. XII, Chapter I. The Nature of an Indulgence, nn. 1, 2 & 3 (3 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. II, Bk. XII, Chapter II. Conditions Required for Gaining Indulgences, nn. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 (8 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. II, Bk. XII, Chapter III. The Jubilee, nn. 1, 2 & 3 (3 passages — hover a number to read it)

Manual of Moral Theology (Manuale Theologiae Moralis)

Ludovicus Wouters, C.SS.R. — 31 passages

Vol. II, Bk. III, Tr. V, Diss. II, Appendix. On Indulgences, n. 480 — (St. Thomas, Supplement, q. 25-27; St. Alphonsus, Theologia Moralis, book VI, n. 531-538; Homo Apostolicus, treatise 16, n. 62-72). The sacrament of Penance was instituted by Christ the Lord for remitting both guilt and … Read in context →

Vol. II, Bk. III, Tr. V, Diss. II, Appendix. On Indulgences, Part I. On Indulgences Generally, n. ¶1 — We shall discuss first the notion or essence, existence, and division of indulgences; then their concession; then their gaining; finally the transfer, suspension, and cessation of indulgences.Read in context →

Vol. II, Bk. III, Tr. V, Diss. II, Appendix. On Indulgences, Pt. I, Sect. I, Existence, and Division of Indulgences, nn. 481, 482 & 483 (3 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. II, Bk. III, Tr. V, Diss. II, Appendix. On Indulgences, Pt. I, Section II. On the Concession of Indulgences, nn. 484, 485, 486, 487, 488 & 489 (6 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. II, Bk. III, Tr. V, Diss. II, Appendix. On Indulgences, Pt. I, Sect. II, Scholion. On the Faculty of Blessing Things with the Application of Indulgences, n. 490 — I. One who has received the faculty of blessing crosses, medals, scapulars, rosaries, etc., with the application of indulgences, is not bound to exhibit it to the Ordinary unless this is expressed in the concession. One … Read in context →

Vol. II, Bk. III, Tr. V, Diss. II, Appendix. On Indulgences, Pt. I, Sect. III, Chapter I. On the Subject Capable of Gaining Indulgences, n. 491 — In order that someone be capable of gaining indulgences for himself, he must be baptized, not excommunicated, in the state of grace at least at the end of the prescribed works, and a subject of the one granting (canon 92… Read in context →

Vol. II, Bk. III, Tr. V, Diss. II, Appendix. On Indulgences, Pt. I, Sect. III, Chapter II. On the Requisites So That a Capable Subject May Gain Indulgences, nn. 492, 493, 495, 496, 497, 498, 499 & 500 (8 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. II, Bk. III, Tr. V, Diss. II, Appendix. On Indulgences, Pt. I, Sect. III, Ch. II, Scholion. On the Application of Indulgences to the Souls in Purgatory, nn. 502, 503 & 504 (3 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. II, Bk. III, Tr. V, Diss. II, Appendix. On Indulgences, Pt. I, Sect. IV, Suspension, and Cessation of Indulgences, nn. 505, 506 & 507 (3 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. II, Bk. III, Tr. V, Diss. II, Appendix. On Indulgences, Pt. II, Sect. VIII, Ch. II, Article III. On the Indulgence, nn. ¶1, 557, 558 & 559 (4 passages — hover a number to read it)

Institutions of Moral Theology (Institutiones Theologiae Moralis)

Gennaro Bucceroni, S.J. — 45 passages

Vol. I, On Laws, IX. Privileges of Clerics, Bishops, Regulars, n. 281 — As regards indulgences. - "All professed regulars enjoy the indulgences granted to any religious order," L. l. 4, n. 64, namely according to the Brief of Leo X, Dudum per Nos accepto, 10 Dec. 1519, and the Brief of Paul … Read in context →

Vol. IV, On the Constitution *Apostolicae Sedis*, n. 1194 — XI. All who, making gain from Indulgences and other spiritual graces, are struck with the censure of excommunication by the constitution of St. Pius V Quam plenum, January 2, 1569. All who, etc. By the aforesaid constitu… Read in context →

Vol. IV, On the Constitution *Officiorum ac munerum*, n. 1310 — What about images and indulgences? "Images of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Angels and Saints, or other Servants of God, printed in any way whatsoever and differing from the sense and decrees of the Chu… Read in context →

Vol. IV, On Indulgences, nn. 1349–1365 (17 passages)

Vol. IV, On Indulgences, On Jubilee, nn. 1366, 1367, 1368, 1369, 1370, 1371, 1372, 1373 & 1374 (9 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. IV, On Indulgences, On the Privileged and Gregorian Altar, nn. 1375, 1376, 1377, 1378, 1379 & 1380 (6 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. IV, On Indulgences, Principal Other Indulgences, nn. 1381, 1382, 1383, 1384, 1385, 1386, 1387, 1388, 1389 & 1390 (10 passages — hover a number to read it)

Moral Enchiridion, and Supplement to the Compendium of Moral Theology of Gury-Ballerini (Enchiridion Morale)

Gennaro Bucceroni, S.J. — 60 passages

Bucceroni, Moral Enchiridion, On Indulgences, nn. ¶1–¶25 (25 passages)

Bucceroni, Moral Enchiridion, On Indulgences in Particular, nn. ¶1–¶35 (35 passages)

Cases of Conscience, Proposed by Cardinal de Lugo, by Fr. Beniamino Elbel, by Fr. Ioannes Petrus Gury and by Other Authors, and Resolved (Casus conscientiae)

Gennaro Bucceroni, S.J. — 15 passages

177. On the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, nn. 1 & 2 (4 passages — hover a number to read it)

178. Imposition of Scapulars, nn. 1, 2 & 3 (6 passages — hover a number to read it)

179. On Gregorian Masses, n. 1 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

180. Plenary Indulgence at the Article of Death, n. 1 (3 passages — hover a number to read it)

Moral Enchiridion, Comprising Select Decrees and Definitions of the Holy See, of Ecumenical Councils and of the Sacred Roman Congregations (Enchiridion Morale), Fourth Edition

Gennaro Bucceroni, S.J. — 124 passages

Bucceroni, Moral Enchiridion (4th ed., 1905), On Indulgences, nn. 1349, 1354, 1351, 1352, 1353, 1355, 1360, 1361, 1362, 1363 & 1364 (118 passages — hover a number to read it)

Bucceroni, Moral Enchiridion (4th ed., 1905), Appendix, nn. ¶1, ¶2, ¶3, ¶4, ¶5 & ¶6 (6 passages — hover a number to read it)

Compendium of Moral Theology of Fr. John Peter Gury, S.J., with the Notes of Antonio Ballerini, S.J.

Jean-Pierre Gury, S.J.; notes by Antonio Ballerini, S.J. — 89 passages

Vol. II, Appendix. On Indulgences a…, Chapter I. On Indulgences, nn. 1041, 1042, 1043, 1044, 1045, 1046, 1047, 1048, 1049, 1050, 1051, 1052, 1053, 1054, 1055, 1056, 1057, 1058, 1059 & 1060 (89 passages — hover a number to read it)

Synopsis of Moral and Pastoral Theology

Adolphe Tanquerey, S.S. — 70 passages

Vol. I, Matrimony, and Holy Orders, On Penance (Volume I), Appendix: On Indulgences, nn. ¶1, ¶2, 599–618, ¶3, 619, 620, 621, 622, 623, 624, 628, 629, 630, 631, 632, 633, 634, 635, 636, 637, 638, ¶4, 639, 640, 641, 642, 643, 644, 645, ¶5 & 646–666 (70 passages — hover a number to read it)

On the Prohibition and Censorship of Books (De prohibitione et censura librorum)

Arthur Vermeersch, S.J. — 2 passages

Tit. I, Ch. VI, Article 16, n. 86 — Character of the article 86. 1. By this first article concerning indulgences, severity is exercised against apocryphal indulgences, yet in such a way that simple faithful are burdened with no excessive weight. Wherefore:… Read in context →

Tit. I, Ch. VI, Article 17, n. 87 — Which authority is competent 87. 1. From the declaration of the Sacred Congregation of the Index, August 7, 1897, competent authority must be understood according to the norms of the prior law, to which by this pronounce… Read in context →

Theologia Moralis: Principles — Responses — Counsels

Arthur Vermeersch, S.J. — 26 passages

Vol. III, Bk. II, Tr. V, Title IV: On Indulgences, nn. ¶1 & 616 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. III, Bk. II, Tr. V, Chapter I: On the Granting of Indulgences, nn. 617, 618, 619, 620, 621, 622, 623, 624 & 625 (9 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. III, Bk. II, Tr. V, Chapter III: On Certain Indulgences in Particular, nn. 635–648 (14 passages)

Vol. III, Bk. III, Tr. II, Appendices, To n. 616. - Appendix XIII. Historical Matters Concerning Indulgences, n. ¶1 — 1. The power of binding and loosing handed over to the Church avails not only for faults and for the eternal punishment joined with grave sin, but by an equal or stronger reason also for remitting temporal punishments. Y… Read in context →

Manuale Theologiae Moralis

Dominic M. Prümmer, O.P. — 7 passages

Vol. III, Pt. II, Treatise VII. On Indulgences, n. 538 — 538. Preliminary note. The treatise on indulgences is a certain complement of the treatise on penance. For it is Catholic dogma that, when guilt has been remitted, the whole punishment due is not always remitted. In sati… Read in context →

Vol. III, Pt. II, Tr. VII, Article V. On Certain Indulgences In Particular, nn. ¶76, 563, 564, 565, 566 & 567 (6 passages — hover a number to read it)

Institutiones Morales Alphonsianae

Clement Marc, C.SS.R. — 22 passages

Vol. II, Part Third: On the Sacrame…, Tr. V, Diss. II, Ch. III, Article III: On Satisfaction Through Indulgences, n. ¶1 — Among the various ways of satisfying God for sins already remitted as to fault, INDULGENCES hold no lowest place, especially the Indulgences of the JUBILEE. - Hence we shall discuss here: 1. Indulgences in general; 2. In… Read in context →

Vol. II, Part Third: On the Sacrame…, Tr. V, Diss. II, Ch. III, Art. III, § 1. On Indulgences, nn. ¶1726, ¶1727, ¶1728, ¶1729, ¶1730, ¶1731, ¶1732, ¶1733 & ¶1734 (9 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. II, Part Third: On the Sacrame…, Tr. V, Diss. II, Ch. III, Art. III, § 2. On The Jubilee, nn. ¶1735, ¶1, ¶1736, ¶2, ¶1737, ¶1738, ¶1739 & ¶1740 (8 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. II, Part Third: On the Sacrame…, Tr. V, Diss. II, Ch. III, Art. III, § 3. On Indulgences To Be Gained In The Article Of Death, nn. ¶1741 & ¶1742 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. II, Part Third: On the Sacrame…, Tr. V, Diss. II, Ch. III, Art. III, § 4. On The Privileged Altar For The Dead, nn. ¶1 & ¶1743 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Theologia Moralis Sancti Alphonsi: Reduced into a Compendium

Anthony Konings, C.SS.R. — 9 passages

Vol. II, TREATISE ON IRREGULARITIES, APPENDIX ON INDULGENCES AND JUBILEE, n. ¶1 — Note. - Whenever in this Appendix it is cited, Prinzivalli or Prinz. is understood of his work: Resolutiones seu Decreta authentica S. Congiis Indulgentiis Sacrisque Reliquiis praepositae, etc. This collection is authent… Read in context →

Vol. II, TREATISE ON IRREGULARITIES, CHAPTER I: ON INDULGENCES, nn. ¶1777, ¶1778, ¶1779 & ¶1780 (4 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. II, TREATISE ON IRREGULARITIES, Ch. II, § III. On the Indulgences of Confraternities, n. ¶1790 — 1790. Questions. - Quaer. 1° 1) What are confraternities? 2) What is their origin? 3) By whom can they be erected? Resp. to 1st. They are congregations of the faithful (but not of Religious) instituted by ecclesiastical … Read in context →

Vol. II, TREATISE ON IRREGULARITIES, Ch. II, § VI. On the Indulgence of the Apostolic Blessing, or General Absolution in the Article of Death, nn. ¶1799 & ¶1800 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. II, TREATISE ON IRREGULARITIES, Ch. II, § VII. On the Indulgences of the Prayers of Forty Hours, n. ¶1801 — 1801. - From the Resp. given to the Bishop of Leavenworth (Past. Bl. für N. Am. 1881. p. 44), it is clear: 1° That the privilege of using the manner granted to the diocese of Baltimore, in exposing the Most Holy Sacramen… Read in context →

Summa Theologiae Moralis

Benedict Henry Merkelbach, O.P. — 6 passages

Vol. III, Special Moral Theology: On…, Treatise: On Penance, Fifth Part: On the Subject…, Appendix: On the Penitenti…, Indulgences, and Censures, n. ¶1 — The power of the keys in the internal forum of the sacrament of Penance is to be exercised by the rite determined by the Church; outside the sacrament it is exercised in the internal forum by the concession of indulgence… Read in context →

Vol. III, Special Moral Theology: On…, Treatise: On Penance, Fifth Part: On the Subject…, Appendix: On the Penitenti…, Indulgences, and Censures, Article II: On Indulgences, n. 675 (5 passages — hover a number to read it)

Compendium of Moral Theology

Aloysius Sabetti, S.J., and Timothy Barrett, S.J. — 22 passages

Vol. II, Tr. XXI, Chapter II. On Certain Indulgences in Particular, nn. 1052, 1053, 1053, Q. 2, 1053, Q. 3, 1054, 1055, 1055, Q. 2, 1055, Q. 3, 1056, 1057, 1058, 1058, Q. 2, 1058, Q. 3, 1058, Q. 4, 1058, Q. 5, 1059, 1060, 1060, Q. 2, 1060, Q. 3, 1060, Q. 4 & 1061 (22 passages — hover a number to read it)

Christian Theology, Dogmatic and Moral, in Compendium

Daniele Concina, O.P. — 16 passages

Diss. II, Chapter XI — On indulgences, nn. I–XVI (16 passages)

Cases of Conscience for English-Speaking Countries, Volume II

Thomas Slater, S.J. — 21 passages

Slater, Cases II, Indulgences, Case 1. The Apostolic Blessing, nn. ¶1, ¶2, ¶3, ¶4, ¶5, ¶6, ¶7, ¶8 & ¶9 (9 passages — hover a number to read it)

Slater, Cases II, Indulgences, Case 2. The Jubilee, nn. ¶1, ¶2, ¶3, ¶4, ¶5, ¶6, ¶7, ¶8, ¶9, ¶10, ¶11 & ¶12 (12 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. II, Pt. II, Q. II, Art. 8. The Virtue of Temp…, Sinful Indulgence, n. 2550 — Sinful Indulgence. Sinful Indulgence.—Sinful indulgence, which is opposed to meekness by excess, is often a mortal sin on account of the grave harm it inflicts upon the common welfare and the protection it affords to crime. Thus, Heli was … Read in context →

The Casuist: A Collection of Cases in Moral and Pastoral Theology

Various; ed. S. Woywod, O.F.M., and J. A. McHugh, O.P. — 69 passages (filed under the subtopics)

Vol. II, Case IV: Plenary Indulgence, nn. ¶1, ¶2, ¶3, ¶4, ¶5, ¶6 & ¶7 (7 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. III, Case XII: The Papal Blessing at the Point of Death, nn. ¶1, ¶2, ¶3, ¶4, ¶5, ¶6, ¶7, ¶8, ¶9, ¶10 & ¶11 (11 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. III, Case XXXIX: Replating an Indulgenced Cross, nn. ¶1, ¶2, ¶3, ¶4, ¶5, ¶6, ¶7 & ¶8 (8 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. III, Case XLIII: Is the Invocation of the Holy Name Indispensably Required for Gaining the Indulgence for the Dying?, nn. ¶1–¶16 (16 passages)

Vol. IV, Case L: The Conditions for Gaining an Indulgence, nn. ¶1, ¶2, ¶3, ¶4, ¶5, ¶6 & ¶7 (7 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. IV, Case LI: Is It Necessary to Be in a State of Grace in Order to Gain Indulgences for the Souls in Purgatory?, nn. ¶1, ¶2, ¶3, ¶4, ¶5, ¶6 & ¶7 (7 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. V, Case LIII: Gregorian Altar, nn. ¶1, ¶2, ¶3, ¶4, ¶5, ¶6, ¶7 & ¶8 (8 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. V, Case LXXVI: Indulgence of the Forty Hours, nn. ¶1 & ¶2 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. V, Case LXXVII: The Scapular Medal, nn. ¶1, ¶2 & ¶3 (3 passages — hover a number to read it)

Summa of Moral Theology (Summa Theologiae Moralis)

Hieronymus Noldin, S.J. — 25 passages (filed under the subtopics)

Vol. III, Book Fifth. On Penance., Ch. II, Question IV. On Indulgences., n. ¶1 — The most efficacious means of satisfying God for sins already remitted, besides sacramental penance, is constituted by indulgences. Since these complete sacramental satisfaction in their own way, moral theologians are ac… Read in context →

Vol. III, Book Fifth. On Penance., Ch. II, Q. IV, Article I. On the Nature of Indulgences., nn. 311, 312, 313, 314, 315 & 316 (6 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. III, Book Fifth. On Penance., Ch. II, Q. IV, Article II. On the Conditions for Gaining Indulgences., nn. 317, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322 & 323 (7 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. III, Book Fifth. On Penance., Ch. II, Q. IV, Article III. On the Indulgence of a Privileged Altar., nn. 324, 325, 326 & 327 (4 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. III, Book Fifth. On Penance., Ch. II, Q. IV, Article IV. On the Indulgence in the Article of Death., nn. 328 & 329 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. III, Book Fifth. On Penance., Ch. II, Q. IV, Article V. On the Indulgence of the Jubilee., nn. 330, 331, 332, 333 & 334 (5 passages — hover a number to read it)